言げん外がいにほのめかす

Meanings

1

expression, godan verb (-su)

Used when a speaker conveys something indirectly, without stating it outright. Often appears in formal or written contexts.

彼かれは言げん外がいにほのめかして、辞じ職しょくの意い向こうを伝つたえた。
He hinted at his intention to resign without saying it directly.

その手て紙がみは言げん外がいにほのめかすように、彼かの女じょの不ふ満まんを表あらわしていた。

The letter implied her dissatisfaction in a roundabout way.

Kanji

言say, word
外outside
仄be seen dimly, suggest, intimate

Similar words

ほのめかす
ほのめかす alone means 'to hint at' or 'to suggest indirectly'. 言外にほのめかす emphasizes that the hint is conveyed without explicit words, often through implication or nuance.
暗あん示じする
暗示する is a more direct and common word for 'to hint' or 'to suggest'. 言外にほのめかす is more literary and focuses on the indirectness of the expression.

Written forms

言げん外がいにほのめかす
Standard spelling using the kana form of 仄めかす for clarity.
言げん外がいに仄ほのめかす
Kanji form 仄めかす is less common but still encountered.

Etymology

Compound of 言外 (げんがい, 'unspoken, implied') + に + ほのめかす ('to hint at'). The exact historical derivation is uncertain, but the phrase is a fixed expression meaning 'to hint at without saying directly'.